Blue gill and bass were biting great for the first 4 weeks. The following two weeks the pond is almost dead. It is fished heavily by a kids camp. But catch and release. Are the fish 'on to us?' We're using live worms. Should I use different bait? Don't want to disappoint kids. Thanks!

They might have backed off to deeper water, or they moved to an area to spawn. Lots of them spawning for probably the second time this year in my area. If you're not around the spawning beds, you're not catching bluegill right now.

you could try switching baits up, maggots or waxies. Something different than the red worms or nightcrawlers you are using. Or even crickets, fake ones will last longer and are easier to hook. I live by a high pressure lake and the gills can be finicky at times but they seem to not be able to resist topwater baits. I bet fly fishing would be fun.

If you are able to, fish deeper. Water temps are probably at their peak for the year.

 

@Bluebasser86 I fish a river system where the gills spawn well into the summer. Is it in fact a second spawn, or just stragglers? Most of the "late" spawners are not what I would consider keepers.

40 minutes ago, slonezp said:

If you are able to, fish deeper. Water temps are probably at their peak for the year.

 

@Bluebasser86 I fish a river system where the gills spawn well into the summer. Is it in fact a second spawn, or just stragglers? Most of the "late" spawners are not what I would consider keepers.

Around here they spawn multiple times, there is usually 3-4 waves with each successive wave smaller in numbers and often size.

2 hours ago, slonezp said:

If you are able to, fish deeper. Water temps are probably at their peak for the year.

 

@Bluebasser86 I fish a river system where the gills spawn well into the summer. Is it in fact a second spawn, or just stragglers? Most of the "late" spawners are not what I would consider keepers.

I'm not sure if they're late spawners or fish that have spawned multiple times. I know in some of the bodies of water I fish, there's areas they spawn every year that, once there's fish on beds in the area, there will be fish bedding in that area throughout the summer. I assume they must be spawning more than once, but maybe there's just that many big bluegills in those bodies of water. 

23 hours ago, Looch said:

I bet fly fishing would be fun.

It is.

 

Another good way to quickly search the pond it to run a small Mepps type or small spinner bait through the pond.

19 hours ago, Further North said:

It is.

 

Another good way to quickly search the pond it to run a small Mepps type or small spinner bait through the pond.

 

Exactly.  A size 6 - 10 "bream killer" or similar fly will produce well.  Tip it with bait or "Powerbait" nibbles if you want.

 

But a roostertail spinner, Rebel micro critter, beetle spin, or any number of other small lures will b good too.

I have been absolutely destroying some big bluegill recently with trout magnets, bread, worms, and fly fishing with tiny plastic minnow baits. Caught probably 4-9", 2-10", and an 11" and 12". Right now they don't seem to be on beds in my area, but the lake where I caught all of these is  a cool, clear mountain lake.

 

In the summer I don't find that bluegill move deeper, but I do think that they look for shade from docks and overhanging tree branches. Try casting a foam spider or dry fly around both of those areas if you're into fly fishing, it's a great way to pass time when the bass are being difficult.

If the bream are being tricky try drifting bread to them weightless with the hook buried deep and hidden. Be as subtle as possible, with light line, either 2 or 4 lb test.

On 7/30/2017 at 10:19 PM, Looking for the big one said:

I have been absolutely destroying some big bluegill recently with trout magnets, bread, worms, and fly fishing with tiny plastic minnow baits. Caught probably 4-9", 2-10", and an 11" and 12". Right now they don't seem to be on beds in my area, but the lake where I caught all of these is  a cool, clear mountain lake.

 

In the summer I don't find that bluegill move deeper, but I do think that they look for shade from docks and overhanging tree branches. Try casting a foam spider or dry fly around both of those areas if you're into fly fishing, it's a great way to pass time when the bass are being difficult.

If the bream are being tricky try drifting bread to them weightless with the hook buried deep and hidden. Be as subtle as possible, with light line, either 2 or 4 lb test.

I killed them this past Sunday. Probably caught over 100 Found them relating to shade in 2fow, relating to a steep drop in 6fow, and relating to nothing in 12fow.